Top 25
59-41-2
- Games
- 102
- Win rate
- 58.8%
Back to Coaches
Peak DominatorBalancedLong Career
Coach Profile
Tom Osborne
1973-1997 • Nebraska
One defining program at Nebraska.
Tom Osborne coached 25 seasons, won 83.5%, and posted an average SRS of 24.2. Best season: 1995 Nebraska. The profile was balanced with a very steady week-to-week shape. One primary stint defined the run.
- Career record
- 255-49-3
- Career win rate
- 83.5%
- Average SRS
- 24.2
- Peak SRS
- 34.6
Career Dossier
One glance at the full arc.
The profile below keeps the headline numbers visible, then moves into tenure shape, school impact, and full season detail.
- Seasons coached
- 25
- Career span
- 25 years
- Best finish
- #1
- Consistency
- 80.1
Primary school anchor
Nebraska
Balanced profile with 1 program stop and a peak score of 98.8.
Career Arc
Track how the coach's season-to-season performance changed over time, where the peak landed, and where each school stint appears.
Focus on where peaks separate, where floors hold, and how the shape of each career changed over time.
Tom Osborne
EliteStrongAverageLean
1973Actual season year • SRS range 17.1 to 34.61997
Active comparison point
Tom Osborne • 1995
1995 Nebraska
Best seasonBiggest improvement12-0 • SRS 34.6 • SP Overall 36.4
Win %
100.0%
YoY SRS
+10.4
SP Off / Def
54.0 / 23.7
Finish
#1
Comparison context
Focus a point to inspect how it stacks up against the rest of the field.
Ranked opponent record
Track career record against ranked opponents with switchable poll source and ranking timing.
Using AP Top 25 rankings at the time of each game; week-one games use the week-one ranking release when available.
Top 10
19-33
- Games
- 52
- Win rate
- 36.5%
Top 5
7-27
- Games
- 34
- Win rate
- 20.6%
View ranked game results102
| 1997 Regular Week 7 | Nebraska | Kansas State | #17 | W56-26 |
| 1997 Regular Week 5 | Nebraska | Washington | #2 | W27-14 |
| 1997 Postseason Week 1 | Nebraska | Tennessee | #7 | W42-17 |
| 1997 Postseason Week 1 | Nebraska | Texas A&M | #20 | W54-15 |
| 1996 Regular Week 15 | Nebraska | Colorado | #5 | W17-12 |
| 1996 Regular Week 7 | Nebraska | Kansas State | #16 | W39-3 |
| 1996 Regular Week 5 | Nebraska | Arizona State | #17 | L0-19 |
| 1996 Postseason Week 1 | Nebraska | Virginia Tech | #13 | W41-21 |
| 1996 Postseason Week 1 | Nebraska | Texas | #23 | L27-37 |
| 1995 Regular Week 12 | Nebraska | Kansas | #10 | W41-3 |
| 1995 Regular Week 10 | Nebraska | Colorado | #7 | W44-21 |
| 1995 Regular Week 9 | Nebraska | Kansas State | #8 | W49-25 |
| 1995 Postseason Week 1 | Nebraska | Florida | #2 | W62-24 |
| 1994 Regular Week 10 | Nebraska | Colorado | #2 | W24-7 |
| 1994 Regular Week 8 | Nebraska | Kansas State | #16 | W17-6 |
| 1994 Regular Week 4 | Nebraska | UCLA | #13 | W49-21 |
| 1994 Regular Week 1 | Nebraska | West Virginia | #24 | W31-0 |
| 1994 Postseason Week 1 | Nebraska | Miami | #6 | W24-17 |
| 1993 Regular Week 14 | Nebraska | Oklahoma | #16 | W21-7 |
| 1993 Regular Week 10 | Nebraska | Colorado | #20 | W21-17 |
| 1993 Postseason Week 1 | Nebraska | Florida State | #1 | L16-18 |
| 1992 Regular Week 11 | Nebraska | Kansas | #13 | W49-7 |
| 1992 Regular Week 10 | Nebraska | Colorado | #8 | W52-7 |
| 1992 Regular Week 4 | Nebraska | Washington | #2 | L14-29 |
| 1992 Postseason Week 1 | Nebraska | Florida State | #2 | L14-27 |
| 1991 Regular Week 14 | Nebraska | Oklahoma | #19 | W19-14 |
| 1991 Regular Week 10 | Nebraska | Colorado | #15 | T19-19 |
| 1991 Regular Week 5 | Nebraska | Arizona State | #24 | W18-9 |
| 1991 Regular Week 4 | Nebraska | Washington | #4 | L21-36 |
| 1991 Postseason Week 1 | Nebraska | Miami | #1 | L0-22 |
| 1990 Regular Week 14 | Nebraska | Oklahoma | #22 | L10-45 |
| 1990 Regular Week 11 | Nebraska | Colorado | #4 | L12-27 |
| 1990 Postseason Week 1 | Nebraska | Georgia Tech | #2 | L21-45 |
| 1989 Regular Week 10 | Nebraska | Colorado | #2 | L21-27 |
| 1989 Postseason Week 1 | Nebraska | Florida State | #3 | L17-41 |
| 1988 Regular Week 13 | Nebraska | Oklahoma | #9 | W7-3 |
| 1988 Regular Week 12 | Nebraska | Colorado | #19 | W7-0 |
| 1988 Regular Week 8 | Nebraska | Oklahoma State | #10 | W63-42 |
| 1988 Regular Week 3 | Nebraska | UCLA | #5 | L28-41 |
| 1988 Regular Week 1 | Nebraska | Texas A&M | #10 | W23-14 |
| 1988 Postseason Week 1 | Nebraska | Miami | #2 | L3-23 |
| 1987 Regular Week 13 | Nebraska | Oklahoma | #1 | L7-17 |
| 1987 Regular Week 8 | Nebraska | Oklahoma State | #19 | W35-0 |
| 1987 Regular Week 5 | Nebraska | Arizona State | #13 | W35-28 |
| 1987 Regular Week 3 | Nebraska | UCLA | #13 | W42-33 |
| 1987 Postseason Week 1 | Nebraska | Florida State | #2 | L28-31 |
| 1986 Regular Week 13 | Nebraska | Oklahoma | #3 | L17-20 |
| 1986 Regular Week 2 | Nebraska | Florida State | #15 | W34-17 |
| 1986 Postseason Week 1 | Nebraska | LSU | #10 | W30-15 |
| 1985 Regular Week 13 | Nebraska | Oklahoma | #5 | L7-27 |
| 1985 Regular Week 7 | Nebraska | Oklahoma State | #5 | W34-24 |
| 1985 Regular Week 4 | Nebraska | Illinois | #20 | W52-25 |
| 1985 Regular Week 2 | Nebraska | Florida State | #17 | L13-17 |
| 1985 Postseason Week 1 | Nebraska | Michigan | #2 | L23-27 |
| 1984 Regular Week 13 | Nebraska | Oklahoma | #2 | L7-17 |
| 1984 Regular Week 7 | Nebraska | Oklahoma State | #13 | W17-3 |
| 1984 Regular Week 5 | Nebraska | UCLA | #17 | W42-3 |
| 1984 Postseason Week 1 | Nebraska | LSU | #15 | W28-10 |
| 1983 Regular Week 1 | Nebraska | Penn State | #4 | W44-6 |
| 1983 Postseason Week 1 | Nebraska | Miami | #1 | L30-31 |
| 1982 Regular Week 13 | Nebraska | Oklahoma | #11 | W28-24 |
| 1982 Regular Week 5 | Nebraska | Auburn | #20 | W41-7 |
| 1982 Regular Week 4 | Nebraska | Penn State | #8 | L24-27 |
| 1982 Postseason Week 1 | Nebraska | LSU | #11 | W21-20 |
| 1981 Regular Week 8 | Nebraska | Missouri | #19 | W6-0 |
| 1981 Regular Week 4 | Nebraska | Penn State | #3 | L24-30 |
| 1981 Regular Week 3 | Nebraska | Florida State | #19 | W34-14 |
| 1981 Postseason Week 1 | Nebraska | Clemson | #1 | L15-22 |
| 1980 Regular Week 13 | Nebraska | Oklahoma | #6 | L17-21 |
| 1980 Regular Week 6 | Nebraska | Florida State | #11 | L14-18 |
| 1980 Regular Week 5 | Nebraska | Penn State | #17 | W21-7 |
| 1980 Postseason Week 1 | Nebraska | Mississippi State | #19 | W31-17 |
| 1979 Regular Week 13 | Nebraska | Oklahoma | #5 | L14-17 |
| 1979 Postseason Week 1 | Nebraska | Houston | #5 | L14-17 |
| 1978 Regular Week 12 | Nebraska | Missouri | #19 | L31-35 |
| 1978 Regular Week 11 | Nebraska | Oklahoma | #4 | W17-14 |
| 1978 Regular Week 6 | Nebraska | Iowa State | #20 | W23-0 |
| 1978 Postseason Week 1 | Nebraska | Oklahoma | #3 | L24-31 |
| 1977 Regular Week 13 | Nebraska | Oklahoma | #2 | L7-38 |
| 1977 Regular Week 8 | Nebraska | Colorado | #15 | W33-15 |
| 1977 Regular Week 7 | Nebraska | Iowa State | #16 | L21-24 |
| 1977 Regular Week 3 | Nebraska | Alabama | #10 | W31-24 |
| 1977 Postseason Week 1 | Nebraska | North Carolina | #17 | W21-17 |
| 1976 Regular Week 13 | Nebraska | Oklahoma | #8 | L17-20 |
| 1976 Regular Week 11 | Nebraska | Iowa State | #14 | L28-37 |
| 1976 Regular Week 10 | Nebraska | Oklahoma State | #17 | W14-10 |
| 1976 Regular Week 8 | Nebraska | Missouri | #10 | L24-34 |
| 1976 Regular Week 2 | Nebraska | LSU | #16 | T6-6 |
| 1976 Postseason Week 1 | Nebraska | Texas Tech | #13 | W27-24 |
| 1975 Regular Week 12 | Nebraska | Oklahoma | #7 | L10-35 |
| 1975 Regular Week 9 | Nebraska | Missouri | #12 | W30-7 |
| 1975 Regular Week 8 | Nebraska | Colorado | #10 | W63-21 |
| 1975 Postseason Week 1 | Nebraska | Arizona State | #2 | L14-17 |
| 1974 Regular Week 12 | Nebraska | Oklahoma | #1 | L14-28 |
| 1974 Regular Week 7 | Nebraska | Kansas | #13 | W56-0 |
| 1974 Postseason Week 1 | Nebraska | Florida | #15 | W13-10 |
| 1973 Regular Week 13 | Nebraska | Oklahoma | #2 | L0-27 |
| 1973 Regular Week 8 | Nebraska | Kansas | #17 | W10-9 |
| 1973 Regular Week 7 | Nebraska | Missouri | #7 | L12-13 |
| 1973 Regular Week 4 | Nebraska | NC State | #19 | W31-14 |
| 1973 Regular Week 2 | Nebraska | UCLA | #16 | W40-13 |
| 1973 Postseason Week 1 | Nebraska | Texas | #14 | W19-3 |
Tenure map
Each stint expands by seasons coached. Deeper color signals a stronger average SRS over that stretch.
Length = seasons coachedDeeper color = stronger stint
Nebraska
1973-1997 • 25 seasons
Avg SRS 24.2 • Win % 83.5%
- Longest tenure
- Nebraska • 25 seasons
- Best tenure
- Nebraska • 24.2 SRS
- Best tenure win rate
- Nebraska • 83.5%
Style and Strength Profile
Compare strength, identity, steadiness, and ceiling through normalized bars with raw SP and SRS context underneath.
These bars are normalized against the full coach dataset. Raw SP and SRS values stay visible so the profile reads as evidence, not decoration.
Overall Strength
Start with total quality before splitting style and variance.
Tom Osborne sets the reference point in overall strength.
Overall Strength
Decisive edgeTom Osborne sets the reference point in overall strength.
Normalized score; raw SP overall stays underneath for reference.
Tom Osborne
Elite
- Raw avg SP Overall
- 26.6
- Percentile
- 100th pct
Elite
Normalized against the full tracked coach pool.
Impact by school
See how each stint compared with what that program usually looked like outside that same span.
Nebraska
1973-1997 • 255-49-3
Compared with this school's baseline outside that stint over the prior 5 seasons (5 baseline seasons found).
Avg SRS 24.2Win % 83.5%
Avg wins
Higher is better
10.2 during vs 9.6 baseline
+0.6
Avg SRS
Higher is better
24.2 during vs 28.0 baseline
-3.8
Avg SP Overall
Higher is better
26.6 during vs 33.3 baseline
-6.7
Ranked finish rate
Higher is better
100.0% during vs 80.0% baseline
+20.0%
Career highs and lows
High Points
Best Season
Nebraska 1995
12-0 • SRS 34.6
Biggest Improvement
Nebraska 1995
12-0 • 10.4 SRS
Best Offensive Season
Nebraska 1995
12-0 • SP Off 54.0
Best Defensive Season
Nebraska 1973
9-2-1 • SP Def 8.2
Setbacks
Worst Season
Nebraska 1988
11-2 • SRS 17.1
Biggest Drop
Nebraska 1984
10-2 • -8.5 SRS
Season-by-season results
Full transparency into every season in the coaching record. Positive YoY values indicate improvement from the prior season.
| Nebraska | 1997 | 13 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% | #6 | #2 | 27.5 | 31.4 | 50.6 | 23.4 | -3.8 | +15.4% |
| Nebraska | 1996 | 13 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 84.6% | #1 | #6 | 31.3 | 34.6 | 49.4 | 16.9 | -3.3 | -15.4% |
| Nebraska | 1995 | 12 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% | #2 | #1 | 34.6 | 36.4 | 54.0 | 23.7 | +10.4 | 0.0% |
| Nebraska | 1994 | 13 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% | #4 | #1 | 24.2 | 28.6 | 42.1 | 14.4 | -1.2 | +8.3% |
| Nebraska | 1993 | 12 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 91.7% | #8 | #3 | 25.4 | 30.0 | 43.5 | 14.4 | +3.1 | +16.7% |
| Nebraska | 1992 | 12 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 75.0% | #11 | #14 | 22.3 | 26.8 | 44.1 | 19.5 | +1.7 | -4.2% |
| Nebraska | 1991 | 12 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 79.2% | #15 | #15 | 20.6 | 24.0 | 44.7 | 23.8 | +0.6 | +4.2% |
| Nebraska | 1990 | 12 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 75.0% | #7 | #24 | 20.0 | 20.2 | 40.5 | 22.5 | +0.8 | -8.3% |
| Nebraska | 1989 | 12 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 83.3% | #3 | #11 | 19.2 | 22.2 | 45.6 | 27.1 | +2.1 | -1.3% |
| Nebraska | 1988 | 13 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 84.6% | #2 | #10 | 17.1 | 21.7 | 41.1 | 22.0 | -8.3 | +1.3% |
| Nebraska | 1987 | 12 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 83.3% | #2 | #6 | 25.4 | 29.4 | 44.2 | 16.7 | +4.8 | 0.0% |
| Nebraska | 1986 | 12 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 83.3% | #8 | #5 | 20.6 | 23.5 | 41.1 | 19.8 | +1.3 | +8.3% |
| Nebraska | 1985 | 12 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 75.0% | #9 | #11 | 19.3 | 22.7 | 39.8 | 18.8 | -1.5 | -8.3% |
| Nebraska | 1984 | 12 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 83.3% | #2 | #4 | 20.8 | 23.0 | 35.9 | 13.9 | -8.5 | -9.0% |
| Nebraska | 1983 | 13 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 92.3% | #1 | #2 | 29.3 | 32.0 | 52.0 | 25.7 | +3.3 | 0.0% |
| Nebraska | 1982 | 13 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 92.3% | #4 | #3 | 26.0 | 28.6 | 44.5 | 17.8 | +0.9 | +17.3% |
| Nebraska | 1981 | 12 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 75.0% | #6 | #11 | 25.1 | 28.2 | 38.4 | 10.3 | -7.7 | -8.3% |
| Nebraska | 1980 | 12 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 83.3% | #7 | #7 | 32.8 | 35.0 | 45.1 | 11.2 | +9.2 | 0.0% |
| Nebraska | 1979 | 12 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 83.3% | #8 | #9 | 23.6 | 25.5 | 38.1 | 12.7 | -1.4 | +8.3% |
| Nebraska | 1978 | 12 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 75.0% | #10 | #8 | 25.0 | 26.0 | 44.5 | 21.1 | +5.5 | 0.0% |
| Nebraska | 1977 | 12 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 75.0% | #15 | #12 | 19.5 | 23.0 | 36.6 | 14.4 | -0.8 | +1.9% |
| Nebraska | 1976 | 13 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 73.1% | #1 | #9 | 20.3 | 20.5 | 37.4 | 18.1 | -4.9 | -10.3% |
| Nebraska | 1975 | 12 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 83.3% | #7 | #9 | 25.2 | 23.6 | 36.2 | 13.9 | +3.7 | +8.3% |
| Nebraska | 1974 | 12 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 75.0% | #7 | #9 | 21.5 | 19.3 | 34.2 | 16.3 | -7.4 | -4.2% |
| Nebraska | 1973 | 12 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 79.2% | #4 | #7 | 28.9 | 30.0 | 38.2 | 8.2 | — | — |
Similar coaches
Related profiles are matched by style, strength band, volatility band, peak range, and career length.
Bob Stoops
same balanced identity • volatility within 0.9
Avg SRS 19.2 • Peak SRS 32.8 • 19 seasons
Best finish #1 • Volatility 5.4
Open profile →Barry Switzer
same balanced identity • avg SRS within 0.6
Avg SRS 23.6 • Peak SRS 37.8 • 16 seasons
Best finish #1 • Volatility 7.0
Open profile →Bob Neyland
same balanced identity • volatility within 0.1
Avg SRS 16.6 • Peak SRS 27.1 • 21 seasons
Best finish #1 • Volatility 4.6
Open profile →Knute Rockne
same balanced identity • avg SRS within 1.9
Avg SRS 22.3 • Peak SRS 29.3 • 13 seasons
Best finish Unranked • Volatility 5.6
Open profile →Ryan Day
same balanced identity • avg SRS within 0.4
Avg SRS 23.8 • Peak SRS 32.8 • 8 seasons
Best finish #1 • Volatility 4.1
Open profile →Darrell Royal
same balanced identity • career span within 2 years
Avg SRS 18.9 • Peak SRS 35.4 • 23 seasons
Best finish #1 • Volatility 7.8
Open profile →